Support member to position a system board

ABSTRACT

A support member that positions a system board is provided herein. The support member includes a frame and a plurality of mounting members. The frame supports a system board. The plurality of mounting members are formed in the frame. The plurality of mounting members connect the frame to the system pan holding the system board. The plurality of mounting members are disposed on the frame to bend the system board.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/421,457 entitled “SUPPORT MEMBER TO POSITION A SYSTEMBOARD,” filed Mar. 15, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety.

BACKGROUND

A server rack supports multiple servers. Server chassis on the serverrack are used to support the servers on the server rack. A heightlimitation is provided for each server and server chassis to preventcontact between adjacent server chassis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure are described in thefollowing description, read with reference to the figures attachedhereto and do not limit the scope of the claims. In the figures,identical and similar structures, elements or parts thereof that appearin more than one figure are generally labeled with the same or similarreferences in the figures in which they appear. Dimensions of componentsand features illustrated in the figures are chosen primarily forconvenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily toscale. Referring to the attached figures:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a support member according to anexample;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the support member of FIG. 1 accordingto an example;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the support member of FIG. 1 accordingto an example;

FIG. 4 illustrates block diagram of an assembly according to an example;

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of the assembly of FIG. 4according to an example;

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of the assembly of FIG. 4inserted into a server chassis according to an example; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of a method to position a system boardaccording to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is depictedby way of illustration specific examples in which the present disclosuremay be practiced. It is to be understood that other examples may beutilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departingfrom the scope of the present disclosure.

A server rack that supports multiple servers in a vertical direction hasheight limitations for the servers on a server chassis to preventcontact in the vertical direction between adjacent severs. As servertechnology advances the components of the servers become more compactand powerful allowing for an increase in the density of the componentsattached to the system board of the server. As the system board becomesheavier the server and server chassis sag in the middle of the serverchassis. The sag increases as the weight of the server increasesresulting in the sag exceeding the height limitation and coming intocontact with the server that is vertically positioned below. One way toreduce the sag is to pre-bow the sheet metal that forms the chassis;however, as the weight of the components increase, pre-bowing the sheetmetal alone does not reduce the vertical movement of the server chassisthat causes the sag.

In examples, a support member to position a system board is provided.The support member includes a frame and a plurality of mounting members.The frame supports a system board. The plurality of mounting members areformed in the frame to connect the frame to the system board. Theplurality of mounting members are disposed on the frame to bend thesystem board.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a support member 100 to position asystem board, according to an example. The support member 100 includes aframe 12 and a plurality of mounting members 14. The frame 12 is aweight bearing member that supports the system board and/or the systempan. The frame 12 is made of a steel or a steel composition, such assteel, galvanized, cold rolled coil (SGCC) that is, for example, coldrolled steel about one and a half millimeters thick. The frame 12connects to the system board and/or system pan via the plurality ofmounting members 14.

The plurality of mounting members 14 are formed in the frame 12 andconnect the frame 12 to the system pan holding the system board. Theplurality of mounting members 14 are disposed on the frame 12 to bendthe system board. For example, the plurality of mounting members form anarc such that the system board and/or system pan bends or bows tosubstantially conform to the arc. The server is on a server rack thatholds multiple servers vertically therein. For example, when themounting members 14 are connected to the system pan, the mountingmembers 14 bow the system board and the system pan in an upwarddirection relative to or away from the server positioned therebelow tosubstantially conform to the arc.

FIGS. 2-3 further illustrate the support member 100 of FIG. 1 accordingto examples. FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the support member 100,and FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the support member 100. Asillustrated in FIGS. 2-3, the support member 100 includes a frame 12, aplurality of mounting members 14, and a handle member 20 formed therein.The support member 100 also includes a heat sink bracket 22 extendingfrom the frame 12 to receive and/or support a heat sink.

The frame 12 includes a bottom portion 12A and a top portion 12B. Thebottom portion 12A of the frame 12 is connectable to a system board 34and a system pan 36 to support the weight of the system board 34components and reduce sagging in the middle of the system board 34. Thebottom portion 12A may also include the heat sink bracket 22. The topportion 12B includes the handle member 20 and may further connect to apivoting member that connects the frame 12 to a heat sink cage asillustrated below in FIGS. 4-5.

Referring to FIGS. 2-3, the plurality of mounting members 14 arepositioned on the bottom portion 12A of the frame 12. The plurality ofmounting members 14 are illustrated as four mounting members 14, a firstmounting member 24 at one end of the frame 12, a second mounting member26 at an opposite end of the frame 12, and at least one offset mountingmember 28 therebetween, illustrated as two offset mounting members 28.As illustrated in FIG. 3, the at least one offset mounting member 28 isoffset from the first and the second mounting members 24, 26 to form anarc 30 that when attached to the system board 34 bend or bow the systemboard 34 in, for example, an upward direction relative to adjacentsystem boards or servers on a server rack. The offset mounting members28 may be spaced apart from the first and second mounting members 24,26, such that, the offset mounting members 28 are positioned about onemillimeter or one and a half millimeters higher 32 than the first andthe second mounting members 24, 26 to bow the system board 34 in theupward direction relative to the sever positioned therebelow on theserver rack. For example, the line l between the first and secondmounting members 24, 26 and the arc 30 illustrates an example of thebend or bow in an upward direction that the system board 34 conforms to.

Referring to FIGS. 2-3, the handle member 20 is formed as an aperture inthe frame 12, and is illustrated as formed from two apertures; however,depending on the frame 12, the handle member 20 may be formed of atleast one aperture and/or include an additional member added to theframe 12. The handle member 20 enables easy insertion and removal of thesupport member 100 with the system board 34 and the system pan 36attached. When the handle member 20 is formed from aperture(s) theweight of the frame 12 is reduced, while keeping the structural supportof the frame 12. Furthermore, additional apertures 31 may be provided toreduce material and reduce the weight of the support member 100.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a fastener 39 may be used to secure the frame12 to the system pan 36. The fastener 39 is inserted into each of theplurality of mounting members 14 through the system board 34 and asystem sub-pan 38 and into the system pan 36. The fastener 39 isillustrated as, for example, a screw; however other fasteners may beused.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an assembly 400 according to anexample. The assembly 400 supports a system board 34 and a heat sink,illustrated as 62 in FIG. 6. The assembly 400 includes a support member100, a heat sink cage 46, and a pivoting member 48. The support member100 positions a system board 34 and includes a frame 12 and a pluralityof mounting members 14. The frame 12 supports the system board 34. Theframe 12 also connects to the system board 34 and a system pan 36 usingthe plurality of mounting members 14.

The plurality of mounting members 14 are formed in the frame 12 toconnect the frame 12 to the system pan 36 that holds the system board34. The plurality of mounting members 14 are disposed at varyingpositions along the frame 12 to bend the system board 34. For example,the plurality of mounting members 14 form an arc 30 that when mounted tothe system board 34 causes the system board 34 to bend and conform tothe arc 30. In a server rack with multiple servers vertically positionedtherein, the plurality of mounting members 14 bow or bend the systemboard 34 and/or the system pan 36 to conform to the arc 30, such thatthe arc 30 is in an upward direction relative to the server therebelowand/or away from an adjacent server. The heat sink cage 46 extends fromthe frame 12 to support a heat sink. The pivoting member 48 connects theframe and the heat sink cage 46 and enables rotation therebetween. Forexample, the pivoting member 48 engages with the frame 12 and the heatsink cage 46 to pivotally or rotationally connect the heat sink cage 46to the frame 12.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of the assembly of FIG. 4according to an example. The assembly 400 includes a frame 12 with twoheat sink cages 46, illustrated as heat sink cages 46A and 46B. The heatsink cages are attached to the frame 12 using pivoting members 48 thatallow the heat sink cages 46 to rotate or pivot about the pivotingmembers 48. For example, the pivoting member 48 includes a rivet 48Ainserted through a pivot aperture 48B of the frame 12. The pivotingmembers 48 are illustrated as including two pivoting members 48 for eachheat sink cage 46. For example, the pivoting members 48 are illustratedas being located on the top portion 12B of the frame 12 opposite theplurality of mounting members 14. As illustrated, the top portion 12B ofthe frame 12 attaches to the heat sink cage 46, and the plurality ofmounting members 14 attach the bottom portion 12A of the frame 12 to thesystem board 34.

As illustrated above in FIG. 3, the plurality of mounting members 14include a first mounting member 24 at one end of the frame 12, a secondmounting member 26 at an opposite end of the frame 12, and at least oneoffset mounting member 28 therebetween. The offset mounting member 28 isillustrated as two mounting members 14, each offset from the first andthe second mounting member 24, 26 to form an arc 30 therebetween. Theplurality of mounting members 14 bow or bend the system board 34 toconform to the arc 30, such as, bending the system board in the upwarddirection. The arc 30 formed by the plurality of mounting members 14hold the system board 34 to reduce sagging and/or over sagging thatcauses the system pan 36 to contact the system board 34 positioned belowon a rack of servers with multiple servers vertically positionedtherein.

The heat sink cage 46 includes a pair of brace structures 50 extendingfrom the frame 12 to position a heat sink on the system board 34. Thepair of brace structures 50 include a frame end 50A and a clamp end 50B.The pair of brace structures 50 further include a brace support member55 between the pair of brace structures 50 to hold the pair of bracestructures 50 in place. FIG. 5 includes two brace support members 55,one at the frame end 50A and one at the clamp end 50B. Each of the bracestructures 50 may further include at least one tab 50C to hold the heatsink in place.

The frame end 50A of each brace structure 50 is connected to the frame12 via the pivoting member 48, which may include the rivet 48A and apivot aperture 48B to keep the frame 12 and brace structures 50connected and enable rotation of the brace structures 50 around thepivot member 48. The brace structures 50 pivot or rotate around thepivot member 48 such that the brace structures 50 move the heat sinkcage 46 between a first position P₀ and a second position P₁ to insertand/or remove the heat sink therefrom. For example, in the firstposition P₀, the brace structures 50 are rotated to an open positionthat enables insertion and connection of the heat sink to the systemboard 34. In the second position P₁, the brace structures 50 are rotatedto a closed position that enables the heat sink to be secured in theheat sink cage using a heat sink clamp 51.

The clamp end 50B of each brace structure 50 is connected to a heat sinkclamp 51. The heat sink clamp 51 extends between the pair of bracestructures 50 to hold the heat sink adjacent to the system board 34. Theheat sink clamp 51 is connected to the brace structures 50 at the clampend 50B using a spool 52 that engages with the heat sink clamp 51 torotate the heat sink clamp 51 between a first or closed position R₁ andsecond or open position R₀. In the first position R₁, the heat sinkclamp 51 compresses the heat sink adjacent to the system board 34. Inthe second position R₀, the heat sink clamp 51 releases the pressure tothe heat sink that holds the heat sink in place, which enables the heatsink cage 46 to be moved to a second or open position. The heat sinkclamp 51 is a mechanical locking mechanism that holds the heat sink inplace.

The heat sink cage 46 is mountable to the system board 34. For example,the heat sink cage 46 includes a heat sink connector member 53 toconnect the heat sink cage 46 to the system board 34. The heat sinkconnector member 53 may further include at least one cage mountingmember 54 to connect to the system board 34 via a fastener, similar tothe fastener 39 described in FIG. 3. Moreover, the heat sink connectormember 53 may be formed of multiple portions. Referring to FIG. 5, theheat sink connector member 53 includes a base portion 53A to connect tothe system board 34 and two side portions 53B, 53C that connect to theclamp end 50B of the brace structures 50.

The assembly further includes a heat sink bracket 22 for each heat sinkcage 46. The heat sink bracket 22 may be separate from the heat sinkcage 46 as illustrated in FIGS. 2-3 or connected to the heat sink cage46 as illustrated in FIG. 5. In both examples, the heat sink bracket 22extends from the frame 12 and includes a first heat sink support 56 anda second heat sink support 57. The first heat sink support 56 and thesecond heat sink support 57 are formed to receive a portion of the heatsink therebetween 58.

The assembly of FIG. 5 further includes a heat sink support extender 59that extends over a portion of the perimeter of the heat sink cage 46.The heat sink support extender 59 extends between the frame 12 and theheat sink cage 46. For example, the heat sink support extender 59 isbetween the heat sink bracket 22 and the heat sink connector member 53to provide additional support of the heat sink. The heat sink extender59 may be a single support structure as illustrated in heat sink cage46A or a plurality of support structures, as illustrated in heat sink46B. Use of the heat sink extender 59, enables the heat sink connectormember 53 to be connected to the assembly 400. The heat sink extender 59assists with ease of assembly and attachment to the system board as wellas prevents misalignment of the heat sink on the system board 34.

The frame 12 also includes a handle member 20 formed of a pair ofapertures to enable insertion and removal of the support member with thesystem board 34. The handle member 20 may be added to the frame 12and/or formed from apertures in the frame to reduce the weight of theframe. The frame 12 is made of a steel composition, such as SGCC thatis, for example, cold rolled steel about one and a half millimetersthick.

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of the assembly 400 of FIG. 4inserted into a server chassis 60 according to an example. Inpreparation for insertion, the assembly 400 is attached to a systemboard 34, a system sub-pan 38, and a system pan 36 and a heat sink 62 isattached to the system board 34 using the heat sink cage 46. Referringto FIG. 6, the handle member 20 may be used to insert and remove theassembly 400 from a server chassis 60. For example, a handle member 20may be used to place the assembly 400 attached to the system pan 36 inthe server chassis 60 and slide the system pan 36 into position on theserver chassis 60.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart 700 of a method to position a systemboard according to an example. In block 72, a support member is providedto position a system board. The support member also reduces movement ofa system pan in a downward direction. For example, the support memberreduces sagging in the middle of a system pan positioned on a serverrack having multiple servers vertically positioned on the server rack.The support member includes a frame and a plurality of mounting members.The frame supports a system board. The frame connects to a system boardand system pan using the plurality of mounting members.

The plurality of mounting members are formed in the frame to connect theframe to the system pan holding the system board such that the pluralityof mounting members bend the system board. For example, the plurality ofmounting members are positioned to form an arc that, when attached tothe system board, bows or bends the system board to substantiallyconform to the arc. For example, the plurality of mounting members bendthe system board in an upward direction relative to other serversvertically positioned therebelow on a server rack. The frame alsoincludes a handle formed therein. The handle may be used to position theframe with the system board and the system pan attached on the serverchassis.

The plurality of mounting members are connected to the system board, inblock 74. The plurality of mounting members bend the system board in anupward direction to form an arc between the plurality of mountingmembers. In block 76, the support member connected to the system boardis inserted into a server chassis using the handle member. For example,the handle member may be used to lift the frame with the system boardand system pan attached and place the system board into a serverchassis. The system pan holding the system board is placed into theserver chassis using the handle member. The handle member may be used toslide the system pan into a secure position on the server chassis.Similarly, the system board and system pan are removed from the serverchassis using the handle member. For example, the handle member may beused to slide the system pan out of the secure position and remove thesystem pan and system board therefrom. The method may also include aheat sink cage being connected to the support member, such that thesupport member and the heat sink cage support the heat sink on thesystem board. For example, the heat sink may be connected to the systemboard and held into place with the support member and heat sink cageprior to the placement of the system board into the server chassis.

The present disclosure has been described using non-limiting detaileddescriptions of examples thereof and is not intended to limit the scopeof the present disclosure. It should be understood that features and/oroperations described with respect to one example may be used with otherexamples and that not all examples of the present disclosure have all ofthe features and/or operations illustrated in a particular figure ordescribed with respect to one of the examples. Variations of examplesdescribed will occur to persons of the art. Furthermore, the terms“comprise,” “include,” “have” and their conjugates, shall mean, whenused in the present disclosure and/or claims, “including but notnecessarily limited to.”

It is noted that some of the above described examples may includestructure, acts or details of structures and acts that may not beessential to the present disclosure and are intended to be exemplary.Structure and acts described herein are replaceable by equivalents,which perform the same function, even if the structure or acts aredifferent, as known in the art. Therefore, the scope of the presentdisclosure is limited only by the elements and limitations as used inthe claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A support member to position a system board, thesupport member comprising: a frame to support the system board; aplurality of mounting members formed in the frame to connect the frameto the system board, the plurality of mounting members disposed on theframe to bend the system board; and a pivoting member to connect theframe to a heat sink cage.
 2. The support member of claim 1, furthercomprising a heat sink bracket extending from the frame to receive aheat sink.
 3. The support member of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofmounting members include a first mounting member at one end of theframe, a second mounting member at an opposite end of the frame, and atleast one offset mounting member therebetween, the at least one offsetmounting member offset from the first and the second mounting member toform an arc such that the system board bends to substantially conform tothe arc.
 4. An assembly useable with a system board, the assemblycomprising: a support member to position the system board, the supportmember including: a frame to support the system board, and a pluralityof mounting members formed in the frame to connect the frame to thesystem board, the plurality of mounting members disposed at varyingpositions along the frame to bend the system board; a heat sink cageextending from the frame to receive a heat sink; and a heat sink bracketextending from the frame to support the heat sink.
 5. The assembly ofclaim 4, further comprising a pivoting member to connect the frame andthe heat sink cage and enable rotation therebetween.
 6. The assembly ofclaim 5, wherein the heat sink cage comprises: a pair of bracestructures extending from the frame to position the heat sink on thesystem board, the pair of brace structures connected to the frame viathe pivoting member, the pivoting member including a pivot aperture anda rivet; and a heat sink clamp attached to the pair of brace structuresto hold the heat sink adjacent to the system board.
 7. The assembly ofclaim 6, wherein the heat sink cage further comprises a spool thatengages with the heat sink clamp to rotate the heat sink clamp betweenan open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed positionthe heat sink clamp compresses the heat sink adjacent to the systemboard.
 8. The assembly of claim 6, further comprising a brace supportmember positioned between the pair of brace structures to hold the pairof brace structures in place.
 9. The assembly of claim 4, wherein theheat sink cage further comprises a heat sink connector member to connectthe heat sink cage to the system board.
 10. The assembly of claim 9,wherein the heat sink cage further comprises a heat sink supportextender extending from the frame to the heat sink connector member tosupport the heat sink.
 11. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the heatsink bracket includes a first heat sink support and a second heat sinksupport, the first heat sink support and the second heat sink supportare formed to receive a portion of the heat sink therebetween.
 12. Theassembly of claim 4, wherein the frame further comprises a handle memberformed therein to enable insertion and removal of the support memberwith the system board attached.
 13. The assembly of claim 4, wherein theplurality of mounting members include a first mounting member at one endof the frame, a second mounting member at an opposite end of the frame,and at least one offset mounting member therebetween, the offsetmounting member offset from the first mounting member and the secondmounting member to form an arc such that the system board bends tosubstantially conform to the arc.
 14. A support member to position asystem board, the support member comprising: a frame to support thesystem board; and a plurality of mounting members formed in the frame toconnect the frame to the system board, the plurality of mounting membersdisposed on the frame to bend the system board using at least one offsetmounting member, the at least one offset mounting member offset from theplurality of mounting members to form an arc such that the system boardbends to substantially conform to the arc.
 15. The support member ofclaim 14, further comprising a heat sink bracket extending from theframe to receive a heat sink.
 16. The support member of claim 14,further comprising a pivoting member to connect the frame to a heat sinkcage.
 17. The support member of claim 14, wherein the frame furthercomprises a handle member formed therein to enable insertion and removalof the support member with the system board attached.
 18. The supportmember of claim 14, wherein the plurality of mounting members include afirst mounting member at one end of the frame and a second mountingmember at an opposite end of the frame, and the at least one offsetmounting member positioned therebetween.
 19. The support member of claim18, wherein the at least one offset mounting member is positioned aboutone millimeter higher than the first mounting member and the secondmounting member to bend the system board.
 20. The support member ofclaim 18, wherein the at least one offset mounting member is positionedabout one and a half millimeters higher than the first mounting memberand the second mounting member to bend the system board.